O’Brien youngsters put the case for Royal Ascot targets

Aidan O’Brien could have unleashed two juvenile Royal Ascot contenders, after both Carry The Flag and Confucius both obliged at odds-on at Naas.

It was Carry The Flag who opened proceedings when running on well to score as the 30-100 favourite, but his performance would be eclipsed by stablemate Confucius, who gained compensation for his near-miss on Curragh debut by readily landing the Matchbook El Clasico £100 Moneyback Special Irish EBF Maiden.

Sent off the 1-5 favourite, the son of No Nay Never ran out a three-and-three-quarter-length winner in the hands of Wayne Lordan, earning a quote of 12-1 for the Coventry Stakes on the opening day of the Royal meeting.

Ballydoyle stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “He had a lovely run the first day and Ryan (Moore) liked him. Wayne loved him there. He said he has a very good temperament and when he asked him, he really stretched out and the most impressive part was going out through the line.

“Wayne says that in time he’ll have no problem going up again in trip, but he’s had the two runs now and he looks a ready-made Ascot two-year-old. I’d say he’s probably one for the Coventry now and he’s a horse to look forward to for the season ahead.”

Lordan was also in the saddle for the victory of Carry The Flag in the #Matchbooklovesracing Irish EBF Maiden, with Armstrong adding: “He had a lovely run the first day on very different ground.

“Coming here, we hoped he’d win and, in fairness, he got the job done.

“Wayne felt just on the quicker ground, it’s probably the quickest ground he’s ever been on even at home, he just couldn’t get fully traction, he’s just rolling around.

“When the other filly came on his outside it really helped him. He’ll put himself in the Ascot mix now and we’ll see how he progresses and where he fits in.”